Techno-optimism versus Techno-reality: An analysis of internationally funded technological solutions against illegal unreported and unregulated (IU...
Maritime governance has been immersed in growing techno-optimism. Technological developments have largely increased the capacity of states to render legible activities at sea and thus more effectively govern them. One area in which such techno-optimism has gained force but is yet to prove itself is the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. While technology-aided international cooperation has been crucial in curbing piracy, it has been slower to tame IUU fishing. In this article, we study international projects introducing technology-based solutions against IUU fishing in West Africa. Triangulating project documentation, donor evaluations, interviews, and other secondary sources, we assess how the techno-optimism driving those initiatives meets the techno-reality of their contexts of implementation. We find that, while grounds for optimism are far from unwarranted, realizing the potential of technological solutions against IUU fishing requires securing parallel cooperation that allows states to transform technology-based awareness into action.
No Escape - On the frontlines of Climate Change, Conflict and Forced Displacement
The report, released today by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with 13 expert organizations, research institutions and refugee-led groups, uses the latest data to show how climate shocks are interacting with conflict, pushing those who are already in danger into even more dire situations. Of the more than 120 million forcibly displaced worldwide, three-quarters live in countries heavily impacted by climate change. Half are in places affected by both conflict and serious climate hazards, such as Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. Authors: (in alphabetical order) Rabeb Aloui (YOUNGO), Vicente Anzellini (IDMC), Ashleigh Basel (Alliance/CGIAR), Jana Birner (UNHCR), Oli Brown (Alp Analytica), Alessandro Craparo (Alliance/CGIAR), Cedric De Coning (NUPI), Margot Fortin (IMPACT Initiatives), Ruby Haji-Naif (YOUNGO), Xiao-Fen Hernan (IDMC), Rose Kobusinge (YOUNGO), Ochan Leomoi (Dadaab Response Association), Jasper Linke (IMPACT Initiatives), Sandor Madar (Alp Analytica), Brigitte Melly (Alliance/CGIAR), Giuliana Nicolucci-Altman (Alp Analytica), Henintsoa Onivola Minoarivelo (Alliance/CGIAR), Mohamed Othowa (Community Aid Network), Sylvain Ponserre (IDMC), Jonathan Tsoka (Alliance/ CGIAR), Cascade Tuholske (Montana State University), Jamon Van Den Hoek (Oregon State University), Kira Vinke (DGAP), Jeremy Wetterwald (IMPACT Initiatives), Michelle Yonetani (UNHCR), Andrew Zimmer (Montana State University).
Climate, peace and security in the US and beyond
How can policy and discourses in climate, peace and security be compared across widely different contexts? How is climate change tackled as a pote...
Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet: Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) is highly exposed to the impacts of climate change due to socioecological vulnerabilities and ongoing insecurity. Drivers of vulnerability include the absence of state authority, natural resource mismanagement, and low household and community resilience. Although the security situation has improved in recent years, it remains volatile; factions of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), self-defence groups and bandits regularly clash with government forces, allies and mercenaries such as the Wagner Group (now Africa Corps) in rural areas. A changing climate and the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and the Great Lakes region have driven transhumant pastoralists further into CAR earlier in the transhumance season, creating tensions. Additionally, the spillover effects of the war in Sudan have put added pressure on the humanitarian situation in CAR, particularly in the Vakaga and Haute-Kotto prefectures.
Prospects for Europe’s green transition after the 2024 European Parliament elections
On 18 July 2024, Ursula Von der Leyen has been reelected for another term as head of the European Commission, with a stronger mandate than in 2019 – the majority in the European Parliament she managed to ramp up was 401 votes. On 17 September, the planned composition of the new Commission was announced, subject to the approval of the European Parliament. What can we expect from the new EU ‘government’ and what are the most important challenges the VdL2 Commission will face in the area of climate, energy and sustainability governance?